Rod and tube assembly



Feb. 5, 1952 M. P. GRAHAM ROD AND TUBE ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 16, 1947 40d. He 4% zfiz's'nzzzr MATTHEW P. GRAHAM.

- ELIE-5 Patented Feb. 5, 1952 253mm; non-am) ASSEMBLY Matthew 1. Graham, man, then, ass n "to "Thompson Products, Inc Glevlanfl, 01130, 2a-

rcerporati'on o'fohio vA pplicatimr;Sept ember 16, 194-! ,ZSerialLNo. 177 41,363

1 Ola-in). -(Cl. 28 7-4 24 This invention relates to the attachment of withip'artsin vertmalm'css section, illustrating mas :and tubes "for forming firm rcormections therbetween. j

Specifically the invention relates "to Itiieupsetting o'f rod ends in the swaged ends of itiibe's ffor locking the parts together .in fixed relation. I

.rNumerous. mechanical ,asseniblies, such :as drag links 'on automdbiles or ftrucks, requireitiibu'lar housings on the ends of solid metal rods." "this invention provides -sinipli'fieizl arrangements for attaching'theiendsgofrods;andt1ibes. According to this "invention, a tube Lfhas the end thereof 'swaged' down to reduced lii-ia'm'eter size. 'iA-solid metal rod "of a diameter'r'sizedifor fitting in the reduced end of the tube is inserted through this reduceil'endiito exteniiiinto the .tube

beyonii fthe'redu'ce'd end. 'Thetube 'endfis'then upset and partially pierceti :to -ex pandfi'ini'b firm engagement with the tube and have wedged coaction "with the "reduced end vdf'thetube. In

someimodifications, themrodccanbefurtherwelded tothetube while in "other modifications, the rod can be forced through .holes -,,or slots in the tube for locking the -tuloe and rod against relative ro- It is,' then, an object of this invention *to provide a, simplifiednnannerznfaattaching rods and tubes-mend to end relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide rodlandltubevasseniblies with easily formed joints tor integrally connectin the parts,

(lit-still further object of the invention. is ito.,provide aimethod of connecting 'SGIiHJIOds JtOIIiHOW tubes by tube-swaging and rod-iupsettingioperations. I

A still further object of the Zinventionlislto provide a fjoin'tl'fi'xedly connecting a tube end and alrod Y-end, which "j dint includes a wedge ciiitl-anci .aniupsetllug-and key fit.

furtherobject of the invention is togprovide ,,,methodlqi integrally connecting therendznfa a tube "and rod assembled for *iormin'g'a connectionaecordingito invention. I t

Figure 12 is a view .sim'ilarto Figure 1 but illus trating'the comnleted'assenibly and furthershow- 'ingtanupsetting' toolinthe assembly.

Figure f3 a side elevational view, with parts in "vertical :cross section, "illustrating another term ofrndand tube assembly 'taccordingfl to *this invention and srmwmg in iiotteiilines the initial arrangement'dfthe'rod.

Figure 4 "is a transverse "crossesectional view takencalong the line IV-EV'bf Figure 3.

Figure i5 .is 'a View "similarto Figme but illustraltmg :ancther Term of "rod and tube assembly according :to this invention.

Figure 5 is-Jan "explodedside elevational when with ;.par.ts in "vertical cross section, of another iorm ofitube and rod ..arranged :for forming 'an assenilily-accordingto'thislnvention.

Figure"? Iis a view .aof *the assembly formedfrom the parts of Figure .6, showing ithefpartsineleva tion'andin vertical cross section.

.Asshown on the drawings:

IInfEigure lithe reference numeral 1'0 'des'ignates generallyl-allollow itiibeini'tial'ly offuniformidiameter .as shown in ilo'ttedl 'lines. An end (if "the tube Iis v.swageii' iiiown 1at"l'0a to form -a reduceddiameter end diverging to 'themain diameter of the tube from .a cylindricalwall' portion llflbthru a somewhat .curived outwardlyfiaringwall The. A solid rod IN is inserted 'Jin the reduced-diameter end "l-Ddandfhas a diameter sized'ror'snugiyiitting the cylindrical portion 1 01). "The end :of *the rod ll ,prdjedtsiintolthe tube fbeyond' the wall 5 I .atflla.

.As shown in Figure 2., an upsetting midfpierc" ing 4:001 .1235 inserted Iin'lthe ftube [D '.to act against the end Ilia of the- 1nd. illhe -rod :end .is upset to iorm a head .111 thereon following the contonr of the tube wall 40.0. Lhead Jilbjisfirmly bottomed =onthe tube -wall I 'llc. f -Iihepiercing tool partially enters into the end of the rod to form a recess llc therein.

A welded bond l3 integrally connects the rod H with the end [0b of the tube to prevent the rod from extending further into the tube and for holding the head I lb tightly against the wall N10.

The upsetting of the rod can take place while it is in a heated condition and, of course, as soon as the head M12 is formed, the punch or upsetting tool 12 is removed from the tube Ill. The resulting connection or joint between the tube and rod firmly holds the parts in fixed longitudinal and rotatable relation. The wedge fit between the head-l H) and the wall I is maintained by the weld l3 and the head and wall carry all tension loads on the parts.

In the modification shown in Figures 3 and 4, the tube 20 has a swaged down end 20a extending from a cylindrical portion 20b through a somewhat curved outwardly flaring wall 200 to the main diameter of the tube. However, the wall 200 has holes 20d punched therethrough. These holes can be in diametrically opposed relation as shown in Figure 4, or, if desired, addi- 40a of the tube to overlie the slots 400 of the wall 40b.

As shown in Figure 7, the end of the rod 4| is upset to form the head Md engaging the main diameter portion of the tube and also the fragmental spherical wall 40b. The skirt ||b overlies the reduced end of the tube but a portion of the head 4|d of therod is extruded through the slots 400 of the tube to form lugs Me.

The wall 40b of the tube is conveniently formed by a curling-in operation rendered simple by the -formation of the slotted end 40a. This end 4011,

tional holes could be used at spaced intervals around the periphery of the wall .200. A rod 2| is inserted through the reduced end 20a. of the tube 20 and has its iree end Zia projecting beyond the wall 200 into the main body of the tube. This end 2|a is then upset to form the head 2 lb in the manner described in connection with Figure 2. The upsetting operation, in addi-,- tion to forming the head 2|b, also forces the lugs 2|c from the head into the holes 20d; These lugs 2|c in effect are extruded through the holes 2001 and become effective to form keys which look the tube and rod against relative rotation. Wedge fit' relationship between the head Ill) and the wall 200 is alsomaintained by these lugs since they are locked in the holes and resist relative axial movement between the parts. Of course the head 2|b carries the main'tension loads. The weld l3 of the assembly shown in Figure 2 is not necessary.

-In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, "the tube 30 has the reduced swaged end 30a with a cylindrical end portion 30b and a somewhat curved diverging wall 300 extending to the main diameter of the tube. The rod 3| extends through the reduced end 30a of the tube to the depth 3|a as shownin dotted lines. This end 3|aof the rod3| is upset to form a head 3|b as described hereinabove'. The rod is provided with a shoulder 3|c abutting the end 30a of the tube and the head 3|b coacts with this shoulder to wedginglyretain the'wall 30c thereby holding the parts 30 and 3| against axial movement ineither direction andalso against relative rotational movement. 'The shoulder 3 |c, therefore,

takes the place of the weld |3 in the assembly o'fFigure 2, or the lugs Zlc in the assembly of Figures 3 and 4.

' In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7, the tube 40 has a swaged down reduced diameter end 400.. However, a semispherical Wall 4% directly connects this reduced end portion 40a with the main diameter portion of the tube. The end' 4011 has slots 400 out in the wall 401) thereof inwardly from the endat spaced intervals around the periphery of the wall. The rod 4| has an end portion Ala adapted to fit in the end 40a. on the rod in spaced relation from the end Ma and has a recess 4|c adapted to receive the end An integral skirt portion 4|b is formed in effect, is a toothed section.

7 connections between tubes and rods wherein the end of the rod is upset into firm anchored relation with a reduced diameter end of the tube.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from 'the'principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention: 1

A rod and tube assembly comprising a tube having a reduced diameter curled end with open end slots at spaced intervals around the periphery thereof, a. rod having an end portioninserted in said tube and a skirt portion overlying said curled end of the tube, a head on the rod in the tube engaging the inner face of the'c'urled end and having lugs extending through said slots,

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 222,251 Dackus Dec. 2, 1879 255,708 Wassmer' Mar. ,28, 1882 418,198 Lemp et al Dec. 31, 1889 763,676 I Knobbs June 28, 1904 764,943 Guy" July 12, 1904 886,515 Jude May 5, 1908 1,014,684 Weygard Jan. 16, 1912 1,165,514 Kelly Dec. 28, 1915 1,548,990. Giarman Aug. 11', 1925 1,824,810 Ford Sept. 29, 1931 1,865,808 Abegg July 5, 1932 2,213,004 Hickman Aug. 27, 1940 2,426,289 A, Wallace et al Aug. 26, 1947 2,434,080 Rosa Jan. 6, 1948 

